So, I had heard the Blues and Flyers were scouting each for a possible trade, but wasn't sure who the Blues were looking at. If anything, I thought it might be for defense, but obviously, with injuries to Senko and Amac, that may have changed.

The rumor right now points to the Blues looking at Briere. Puck Daddy cites a Philadelphia reporter who said Paul Holmgren would ask for Shattenkirk in return.

If it's Briere for Shatty straight up, I would hate that deal with a passion. If Philly throws in some extra pieces...I might be interested. But losing Shatty would be a huge hit without getting a significant return.

The Blues have more salary cap space than any team in the National Hockey League today, more than $20 million.

The franchise is operating on a tight budget. But the new Tom Stillman ownership group would consider adding some salary this spring if the right trade opportunity presented itself.

So general manager Doug Armstrong has hit the road to survey some possibilities. His regular presence at Flyers games leads the Philadelphia Daily News to believe he ready to do some business with a team looking to make changes.

Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren is feeling some heat with his big-budget team struggling. This man loves to sign players to comically oversized contracts and then dump them so he can sign different players to comically oversized contracts.

How Holmgren keeps his job doing this year after a year is a mystery, but, hey, good for him.

If Holmgren could convince Danny Briere to waive his full no-movement clause – which would take some doing – the Blues would have to at least consider the scenario.

Here is why:

A recent five-game point streak reminded us that Briere, 35, can still generate offense during the twilight of his career. He is small (generously listed at 5-foot-10) but tenacious and somewhat versatile. It would not be hard to imagine him fitting into Ken Hitchcock’s system. The Flyers could can $6.5 million in annual cap space by moving him. That would help this season and really help them handle the upcoming cap reduction. Holmgren would love to create the cap space needed to add significant help on the blue line. The franchise is still reeling from the loss of Chris Pronger to post-concussion syndrome. The Blues could afford the back end of Briere’s contract is not onerous. He will make $3 million next season and $2 million in 2014-15. Holmgren just added old friend Simon Gagne for a draft pick, so that could help offset the Briere subtraction. The Blues just lost forward Andy McDonald to a lower-body injury after losing Vladimir Tarasenko to a concussion. Their admirable offensive depth took a big hit. Neither Phil McRae or Evgeny Grachev progressed at Peoria this season, so the Blues won't get an offensive boost from the minors this season. Armstrong will have to look outside the organization.

Of course, all of this speculation means nothing unless Briere agreed to leave Philadelphia. Right now he does not seem so inclined.

“I don't want to comment on anything at this point,” Briere told the Daily News. “Trades are not my department. I've been a Flyer for a long time. My heart belongs in Philadelphia with the Flyers. I can't see myself playing anywhere else.”

Look for lots of trade activity during the weeks ahead. Some teams are looking to add talent to boost their playoff hopes and other teams are trying to clean up their long-range payroll.

That inspired the Canadiens to move Erik Cole and his remaining contract (two more years at $4 million per season, with a cap hit of $4.5 million per year) to Dallas for Michael Ryder and his expiring contract.

That deal was a master stroke for Montreal GM Marc Bergevin, who gained payroll flexibility while clearing out a twilight-year winger. As for Dallas, this deal proved that teams will go to extremes to add some size and toughness up front.

AROUND THE RINKS: With Andrew Murray up in St. Louis on an emergency recall, a tough season for Peoria in the AHL got that much tougher . . . Much-discussed former Capitals winger Alexander Semin almost scored a short-handed goal for the Hurricanes Tuesday night in Washington. That would have chilled some of the chatter about what a bad guy he was in D.C. Instead, Braden Holtby made the save and the Capitals rolled to a 3-0 victory to get the last laugh . . . Teams looking to add an offensive defenseman could do worse than Ryan Whitney, who landed on the trade block after struggling for Edmonton this season. He is reasonably healthy (for a change) had he offers high-end skill . . . Penguins superstar Evgeni Malkin has begun recovering from his concussion, but it is much too early to guess on a timetable for this return . . . Power forward Shane Doan is glad he stuck it out with the broke Coyotes, who keep winning despite their lack of resources . . . Scouts have had to change their tune on Our Town's Ben Bishop, who worked hard for his long-awaited NHL breakthrough.

The St. Louis Blues seem like your prototypical “one player away” team.

One that needs that added veteran forward who’s been through the wars and, more importantly, has thrived under pressure. He doesn’t have to be another David Backes; he just needs to be tougher than his weight class would indicate.

Which is to say the Blues could use someone like Danny Briere of the Philadelphia Flyers, a versatile forward and over a point-per-game player in the postseason. Like many of the other Blues, he’s a total pain in the ass to play against; your “hate him until he’s on your team” guy.

Frank Seravalli of the Philadelphia Daily News reports that both the Blues and the Boston Bruins have been sniffing around Briere as the Flyers’ ship sinks this season.

The 35-year-old has two years left on his deal, and his $6.5 million cap hit is elephantine; but in terms of real dollars, he’s only owed $5 million over the last two seasons.

From Seravalli:

Briere makes sense for a lot of reasons for a team like St. Louis - and even for the Flyers to be intrigued enough to move him. Currently, Briere isn't the type of player who will get a team into the playoffs, but getting there isn't likely the problem for the Blues. (They could use a boost up front, especially after Andy McDonald left practice Tuesday with an injury.)

He claims the Flyers’ target could be defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk. A one-for-one deal would get Paul Holmgren laughed off the phone with Blues GM Doug Armstrong, but the Flyers have other assets to toss in if they covet the Norris contender.

But that’s all conjecture, because the reality is that Briere determines his future.

From the Daily News, on Briere’s full no-movement clause:

Understandably, Briere doesn't have interest in moving. This isn't a rental situation, where he'd only have to gut it out this season before becoming a free agent. His family is rooted here, including his three hockey-mad sons, Caelan, Carson and Cameron. He earned his right to veto any future deal when signing his 8-year, $52 million pact to join the Flyers in 2007.

The no-move clause was a necessity for the Flyers to sign Briere back in 2007, as they were in a bidding war with other teams. If they wanted him, they had to give the keys to his future to him. It’s understandable.

But as the Flyers look at their roster and see a blueline that needs to get younger and better – and roughly $2.225 million in cap space next season – shipping out Briere makes sense for the right return.

Save for the fact he doesn’t want to leave. Then again, neither did Simon Gagne back in the day.

I agree on both points above. Kreegz, the only reason I see the Blues possibly making that deal is because both Petro and Shatty are looking to get big time raises in the near future. They've got plenty of cap room but is ownership willing to pay?

I agree on both points above. Kreegz, the only reason I see the Blues possibly making that deal is because both Petro and Shatty are looking to get big time raises in the near future. They've got plenty of cap room but is ownership willing to pay?

So let's take Briere's contract on?

I just don't know if there's anything we need quite honestly. There's always room for improvement but we're rolling four offensive lines deep, our defense has been solid if unspectacular (if you're not counting Petro and Shattenkirk), we have 3 goalies... I'm just missing the part where we are needing to trade anything.

Now are we facing impending salary cap/budget issues? Yes. That's the ONLY rationale I can see is trading some of our offensive depth in order to clear some space. But McDonald is coming off the books this year unless we re-sign him on the cheap so... still. Not sure why we'd trade.

I agree on both points above. Kreegz, the only reason I see the Blues possibly making that deal is because both Petro and Shatty are looking to get big time raises in the near future. They've got plenty of cap room but is ownership willing to pay?

So let's take Briere's contract on?

Briere has 2 years left on his deal and it's a cap hit of $6.5 million. However, he's due to make 3 million, then 2, so the overall money paid out isn't that bad, it's the cap hit that's brutal.

I agree on both points above. Kreegz, the only reason I see the Blues possibly making that deal is because both Petro and Shatty are looking to get big time raises in the near future. They've got plenty of cap room but is ownership willing to pay?

So let's take Briere's contract on?

Briere has 2 years left on his deal and it's a cap hit of $6.5 million. However, he's due to make 3 million, then 2, so the overall money paid out isn't that bad, it's the cap hit that's brutal.

The cap hit doesn't mean anything to us because we're not going to get close to the cap ceiling...PLUS, we would only be paying his salary for the last two years of his contract, plus the remainder this year. So, yeah, the cap hit is high, but the actual salary isn't that high. And since we're in no danger of going over the cap anyway, his cap hit number isn't that important to us.

As far as Shattenkirk for Briere goes, apparently a source within the Blues organization heard that rumor and laughed. In other words...Shatty isn't being moved for Briere. Not gonna happen.It would be stupid on numerous levels to trade him straight up for Briere.

I took a close look at the Flyers depth chart trying to see who I wouldn't be upset with them trading Shatty for, figuring there had to be someone good on that roster. There isn't. Trading him anywhere would be a sin. Shatty + Pie = Pronger + Chopper. These two they must build the team around, other pieces are interchangeable.

I took a close look at the Flyers depth chart trying to see who I wouldn't be upset with them trading Shatty for, figuring there had to be someone good on that roster. There isn't. Trading him anywhere would be a sin. Shatty + Pie = Pronger + Chopper. These two they must build the team around, other pieces are interchangeable.

I took a close look at the Flyers depth chart trying to see who I wouldn't be upset with them trading Shatty for, figuring there had to be someone good on that roster. There isn't. Trading him anywhere would be a sin. Shatty + Pie = Pronger + Chopper. These two they must build the team around, other pieces are interchangeable.

In terms of their collective importance to this team, and especially given both are young and still getting better, I'd say that they're the two most important players that need to desperately be locked up long term. That's not to slight others on the team. Berglund is really coming into his own this year and Frank I'm sure will develop into quite a great player. But the best offense is a good defense and with Pie and Shatty this has the makings of a great defense for a long time.

I highly question there is any chance we pay both Shatty and Pie......however, that trade would be extremely one sided and Briere isn't waiving his no movement clause to come here.

It would not surprise me in the least to see Shatty moved at some point (I would hate it....it just wouldn't surprise me). Under this fiscal model...it's basically impossible for them to re-up both Pie and Duces. If they let Stewart and Andy Mack walk after the year and plan to replace Halak with Allen in two years.....You could squeeze them both in, but it would leave you very - very little wiggle room anywhere else on the roster.

Back to the Philly situation...they have to unload payroll (open cap space). If Briere would move, they should be happy with Russel and a prospect in exchange for space we'd create.

I actually thought Andy Mac could have been a target of theirs since there would be little drop off on the ice this year but cap savings with his contract expiring...but that knee injury just ruled that out. But year....I could have seen a Briere for Russel and Andy Mac deal working for both sides...(supposing they are comfortable with Fairchild being the #7 D-man)

Idle thought: Maybe the player we're shopping around Philly is actually Jake Allen.

Consider that we just got another prospect netminder from the Preds and we had no qualms trading off Bishop. Allen has proven that he belongs in the NHL, can make the saves and in my opinion is head and shoulders above the Halak and Elliott tandem, so maybe we're seeing how much we can get from the Flyers for him since the Flyers have had a pretty recent history of revolving door goalies and goalie implosions and a solid and dependable player at goal would be something the Flyers could really use.

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